Mudgee butcher, Jonathan Emeny, has been selected to compete at this year's Sydney Butcher Wars at Meat Stock on the weekend of May 4-5. The amiable 19-year-old is set to go up against some of Australia's best Butchers, as well as some international competitors, and being only days away from turning 20 he's possibly going to be one of the youngest taking part in the event. Jonny completed his school based apprenticeship this year after juggling studies for his Higher School Certificate at St Matthew's Catholic School. During this time he was named as one of only three of TAFE NSW's State Training Awards 2018 finalists, while undertaking a Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher) with the organisation. He is also the head butcher for his family's online business Mudgee Lamb as well as their locally owned butcher shop Let's Meat Mudgee. This year's Sydney Butcher Wars will be held at Sydney Showground, with up to $1,500 in cash and prizes as motivation. Each Butcher is allocated a pork half saddle and a half lamb and are judged on are judged on final appearance, creativity, technique, and speed. Competition time is 30 minutes. Jonny is looking forward to the contest as a learning experience and is confident that the training he has received and the demand of the family business have given him the necessary skills and competency to do his region proud. "I'm honoured to be given this opportunity and I'm looking forward to competing with some of the best butchers around, I'll certainly learn a thing or two that I can use to further my career and capabilities," he said. At 162 cm and weighing in at a fit 55kgs Jonny is not adverse to lugging around beasts as his work for Mudgee Lamb sees him handling locally-sourced carcases of up to 80kg or more each week. A quiet week would see him handling up to 30 lambs, two or three pigs and up to three beef bodies. "I might be smaller than some of the other guys competing but I'm certainly not going to let that stop me," Jonny laughs. The Meat Stock event is two full-on days of barbecue and grilling competitions, Butcher Wars, demonstrations, a barbecue expo, and live bands.

Mudgee butcher set to compete at 'Meat Stock'

Mudgee butcher Jonny Emeny will be representing the local region at May's Sydney Butcher Wars.

Mudgee butcher, Jonathan Emeny, has been selected to compete at this year's Sydney Butcher Wars at Meat Stock on the weekend of May 4-5.

The amiable 19-year-old is set to go up against some of Australia's best Butchers, as well as some international competitors, and being only days away from turning 20 he's possibly going to be one of the youngest taking part in the event.

Jonny completed his school based apprenticeship this year after juggling studies for his Higher School Certificate at St Matthew's Catholic School.

During this time he was named as one of only three of TAFE NSW's State Training Awards 2018 finalists, while undertaking a Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher) with the organisation.

He is also the head butcher for his family's online business Mudgee Lamb as well as their locally owned butcher shop Let's Meat Mudgee.

This year's Sydney Butcher Wars will be held at Sydney Showground, with up to $1,500 in cash and prizes as motivation.

Each Butcher is allocated a pork half saddle and a half lamb and are judged on are judged on final appearance, creativity, technique, and speed.

I'm honoured to be given this opportunity and I'm looking forward to competing with some of the best butchers around. I'll certainly learn a thing or two that I can use to further my career and capabilities.

Jonathan Emeny

Competition time is 30 minutes.

Jonny is looking forward to the contest as a learning experience and is confident that the training he has received and the demand of the family business have given him the necessary skills and competency to do his region proud.

"I'm honoured to be given this opportunity and I'm looking forward to competing with some of the best butchers around, I'll certainly learn a thing or two that I can use to further my career and capabilities," he said.

At 162 cm and weighing in at a fit 55kgs Jonny is not adverse to lugging around beasts as his work for Mudgee Lamb sees him handling locally-sourced carcases of up to 80kg or more each week.

A quiet week would see him handling up to 30 lambs, two or three pigs and up to three beef bodies.

"I might be smaller than some of the other guys competing but I'm certainly not going to let that stop me," Jonny laughs.

The Meat Stock event is two full-on days of barbecue and grilling competitions, Butcher Wars, demonstrations, a barbecue expo, and live bands.